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Abstract:

A granule dispenser for dispensing granules into a receiving cup, the
granule dispenser including a dispenser and a base. The dispenser
includes a collector rotatably mounted to the dispenser and configured to
receive a predetermined volume of granules. The collector defines a
cavity defining a dispensing volume and a port providing access to the
cavity. The base supports the dispenser from underneath the dispenser and
includes a chute, a support, and a catch plate. The support is configured
to releasably mount the receiving cup beneath the chute in a position to
receive granules from the chute. The catch plate is spaced beneath the
support in a position below the receiving cup when the receiving cup is
mounted to the support to catch granules that are not transferred to the
receiving cup. In some examples, the collector rotates between a
receiving position where the port is positioned to receive granules and a
dispensing position where the port is positioned above the chute. In some
further examples, the granule dispenser includes a hopper to store
granules.

Claims:

1. A granule dispenser for dispensing granules into a receiving cup,
comprising: a dispenser including a collector mounted for rotation within
the dispenser and configured to receive a predetermined volume of
granules, the collector defining: a cavity defining a dispensing volume
substantially equal to the predetermined volume of granules, and a port
providing access to the cavity; and a base supporting the dispenser from
underneath the dispenser, the base including: a chute, a support
configured to releasably mount the receiving cup beneath the chute in a
position to receive granules from the chute, and a catch plate spaced
beneath the support in a position below the receiving cup when the
receiving cup is mounted to the support to catch granules that are not
transferred to the receiving cup; wherein the collector rotates between a
receiving position where the port is positioned to receive granules and a
dispensing position where the port is positioned above the chute.

2. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein: the dispenser further
comprises a hopper mounted above the collector to store granules, and the
port of the collector is positioned below the hopper in the receiving
position to receive granules from the hopper.

3. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hopper includes a
removable lid.

4. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the collector is configured
to rotate 360 degrees.

5. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the collector is
cylindrical.

6. The granule dispenser of claim 4, wherein the port extends
substantially the entire length of the collector.

7. The granule dispenser of claim 4, wherein: the dispenser includes a
cylindrical bearing defining a top opening and a bottom opening; and the
collector is mounted inside the cylindrical bearing and the port
underlies the top opening in the receiving position and the port overlies
the bottom opening in the dispensing position.

8. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the collector includes a
knob with which a user may rotate the collector.

9. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing volume
defined by the cavity is selected to receive a single serving of
granules.

10. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the receiving cup includes
an outer lip and the support defines a ledge complimentarily configured
with the outer lip to support the receiving cup from below the outer lip.

11. The granule dispenser of claim 10, wherein the catch plate is spaced
below the ledge a distance greater than the height of the receiving cup
such that the receiving cup hangs freely from the support without the
catch plate interacting with the receiving cup from below.

12. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein: the receiving cup includes
an outer lip; the base further comprises a dividing wall between the
chute and the support; and the dividing wall and the support collectively
define a groove complimentarily configured with the outer lip to support
the receiving cup from above and below the outer lip.

13. The granule dispenser of claim 12, wherein the groove extends along a
curved path.

14. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the chute defines a chute
outlet and the receiving cup defines a top opening, wherein the chute
outlet is substantially the same size as the top opening of the receiving
cup.

15. The granule dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base includes a
retaining wall extending from the catch plate along the periphery of a
portion of the catch plate, the retaining wall retaining granules caught
by the catch plate on the catch plate.

16. The granule dispenser of claim 15, wherein the retaining wall defines
a wall opening through which granules on the catch plate can be removed.

17. A granule dispenser for dispensing granules into a receiving cup,
comprising: a dispenser configured to dispense a predetermined volume of
granules, the dispenser including: a hopper configured to store granules
and having a hopper volume exceeding the predetermined volume, and a
collector rotatably mounted to the dispenser below the hopper, the
collector being configured to receive a predetermined volume of granules
from the hopper when rotated to a receiving position and to dispense the
predetermined volume of granules when rotated to a dispensing position;
and a base supporting the dispenser from underneath the dispenser, the
base including: a chute positioned underneath the collector when the
collector is in the dispensing position, and a support configured to
releasably mount the receiving cup beneath the chute in a position to
receive granules from the chute.

18. The granule dispenser of claim 17, wherein the collector defines a
port and the port is positioned proximate and underneath the hopper in
the receiving position and positioned proximate and above the chute in
the dispensing position.

19. The granule dispenser of claim 17, wherein the collector defines a
cavity having a volume equal to the predetermined volume of granules.

20. The granule dispenser of claim 17, wherein the hopper includes a
hollow body and a lid removably mounted to the hollow body to allow
selective access to the hollow body for adding granules to the body.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to granule dispensers. In
particular, granule dispensers for beverage granules, such as coffee,
tea, and hot cocoa, are described herein.

[0002] Coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, are staple beverages in many cultures.
Coffee is typically brewed by passing hot water over ground, roasted
coffee beans. Tea is typically made by steeping ground tea leaves in hot
water. Hot cocoa may be made by mixing cocoa powder with hot water.
Ground coffee beans, ground tea leaves, and cocoa powder may be described
as granules or beverage granules.

[0003] Machines designed to prepare a single serving of coffee, tea, hot
cocoa, and other beverages have become popular. These machines make a
single serving of a beverage by mixing hot water with granules of coffee,
tea, or hot cocoa supplied to the machine, filtering the brewed beverage
from the spent granules, and dispensing the brewed beverage into a
beverage cup to be consumed by the user. A user can easily create a
variety of beverages by simply changing the type, style, or brand of
granule supplied to the machine. For example, a user may supply French
roast coffee granules to the machine in the morning to make French roast
coffee, supply hazelnut coffee granules to the machine in the afternoon
to make hazelnut coffee, and supply green tea granules to the machine in
the evening to make green tea.

[0004] Currently, a user often purchases a prepackaged, single serving,
disposable container of granules to use with the machines. These
disposable containers are typically made of plastic and are relatively
expensive for the quantity of granules provided as compared to equivalent
granules sold in multi-serving containers. Indeed, the expense per
serving of the prepackaged, single use containers can be 10 times more
expensive.

[0005] Further, the disposable nature of the prepackaged, single serving
granule containers creates adverse environmental impacts. Similar to the
problems associated with plastic water bottles, widespread use and
subsequent disposal of the prepackaged, single serving granule containers
adds significant quantities of avoidable refuse to landfills. Moreover,
plastic containers are petroleum products with the attendant problems
associated with petroleum being a limited resource and petroleum
production contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

[0006] As an alternative to prepackaged, disposable, single serving
containers, reusable containers can be filled with granules by the user.
However, this approach often creates a mess when the user attempts to
transfer granules from a larger container to the single serving
container. In particular, the size of single serving containers are
typically small and transferring granules into the container with a scoop
creates spills and overflow onto the counter.

[0007] Users find it difficult to reliably and accurately transfer the
correct amount of granules to use in the single serving machine absent
prepackaged granule containers. Transferring too many granules creates an
undesirably strong beverage and transferring too few granules creates an
undesirably weak beverage. Known methods do not allow for automatically
dispensing a given quantity of granules into a reusable, single serving
container.

[0008] In addition to being messy and imprecise, manually transferring
granules to a reusable container by known methods is slow. Conventional
processes are slow, in part, because the user must get everything ready
each time a single serving of a beverage is desired. Indeed, known
methods do not allow for staging of multiple servings of granules to be
dispensed as needed, if more accurate quantities are desired, the known,
manual techniques slow even more.

[0009] Thus, there exists a need for granule dispensers that improve upon
and advance the design of known granule dispensers. Examples of new and
useful granule dispensers relevant to the needs existing in the field are
discussed below.

SUMMARY

[0010] The present disclosure is directed to granule dispensers for
dispensing granules into a receiving cup, the granule dispenser including
a dispenser and a base. The dispenser includes a collector rotatably
mounted to the dispenser and configured to receive a predetermined volume
of granules. The collector defines a cavity defining a dispensing volume
and a port providing access to the cavity. The base supports the
dispenser from underneath the dispenser and includes a chute, a support,
and a catch plate. The support is configured to releasably mount the
receiving cup beneath the chute in a position to receive granules from
the chute. The catch plate is spaced beneath the support in a position
below the receiving cup when the receiving cup is mounted to the support
to catch granules that are not transferred to the receiving cup. In some
examples, the collector rotates between a receiving position where the
port is positioned to receive granules and a dispensing position where
the port is positioned above the chute. In some further examples, the
granule dispenser includes a hopper to store granules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a granule dispenser and a receiving
cup suitable for use with the granule dispenser.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the granule dispenser shown in
FIG. 1 with the receiving cup adjacent to the granule dispenser.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the granule dispenser shown in
FIG. 1 with the receiving up mounted on the granule dispenser.

[0014]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a cross section of the granule
dispenser shown in FIG. 1 taken about the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 with the
receiving cup adjacent to the granule dispenser.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a cross section of the granule
dispenser shown in FIG. 1 taken about the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 with the
receiving cup mounted on the granule dispenser.

[0016]FIG. 6 a front elevation view of the granule dispenser shown in
FIG. 1 with the receiving cup mounted on the granule dispenser.

[0017]FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a cross section of the granule
dispenser shown in FIG. 1 taken about the line VII-VII in FIG. 1 with the
receiving cup adjacent to the granule dispenser.

[0018]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a collector and a
bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The disclosed granule dispensers will become better understood
through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with
the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples
of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will
understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and
altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described
herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and
design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every
contemplated variation is not individually described in the following
detailed description.

[0020] Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various
granule dispensers are provided. Related features in the examples may be
identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of
brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each
example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader
that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the
related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to
a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader
should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to
the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or
example.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1-8, a granule dispenser 10 will now be
described. As shown in FIG. 1, granule dispenser 10 includes a dispenser
20, a base 50, and a catch plate 70. As will be explained in more detail
below, granule dispenser 10 is configured to store and dispense granules
into a receiving cup 12. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-8, granule
dispenser 10 is configured to dispense a predetermined volume of granules
into receive cup 12. In some examples, the dispenser and the base are
configured to selectively detach from one another.

[0022] As used herein, "predetermined volume" means an approximate volume
of granules corresponding to a volume needed or used in a corresponding
application. For example, predetermined volume may mean a single serving
of granules for a brewing process. In other examples, predetermined
volume means a cup, teaspoon, or other volume commonly used in cooking
applications. Predetermined volume may mean a precisely measured volume
or an approximate volume.

[0023] A wide variety of granules may be stored and dispensed by granule
dispenser 10. For example, granules appropriate for use with granule
dispenser 10 include beverages granules, such as coffee, tea, hot cocoa,
and apple juice. Such beverage granules are sometimes referred to as
powders, mixes, or "instant" formulations. Other granules suitable to be
dispensed with granule dispenser 10 include salt, sugar, ground pepper,
flour, and spices. As used herein, granules should be understood to
include any solid material with a relatively small particle size, whether
edible or not.

[0024] Granule dispenser 10 may find application when used in conjunction
with machines designed to prepare or brew beverages by mixing water with
a volume of granules. In particular, granule dispenser 10 may complement
machines designed to brew a single serving of a beverage from a
predetermined volume of granules. Of course, granule dispensers described
herein may be adapted for a wide variety of uses beyond machines designed
to brew beverages, such as in cooking or baking applications where
volumes of granules, such as salt or sugar, are used.

[0025] In the example shown in FIG. 1, receiving cup 12 is configured for
use in single serving beverage brewing machines. Receiving cup includes a
filter frame 14 and a brewing cup 16. Brewing cup 16 includes an outer
lip 18 and an outlet port 19. Filter frame 14 mounts inside brewing cup
16 and defines a top opening 17 as depicted in FIG. 5.

[0026] Filter frame 14 receives and supports a beverage filter (not
pictured). Granule dispenser 10 dispenses a volume of granules into the
beverage filter and the beverage filter holds the granules separate from
brewing cup 16. When receiving cup 12 is mounted to a single serving
beverage brewing machine, the brewing machine passes hot water over the
granules held in the beverage filter to dissolve or extract flavor
components from the granules in a brewing process. The brewed liquid
eventually passes through the beverage filter into brewing cup 16 to
thereafter be transferred through outlet port 19 to a user's beverage
container of choice.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the reader can see that
dispenser 20 includes a collector 30 and an optional hopper 40 mounted
above collector 30 to store granules. The dispenser may define separate
compartments, one compartment for the hopper and another compartment for
the collector. Alternatively, the dispenser may form a single, unitary
compartment in which both the hopper and the collector are located.

[0028] In some examples, the hopper is configured to selectively detach
from the collector. Dispenser 20 is mounted above base 50, which allows
dispenser 20 to make use of gravity when dispensing granules. Dispenser
20 stores granules in hopper 40, collects a predetermined volume of
granules in collector 30, and dispenses the predetermined volume of
granules to base 50.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8, collector 30 defines a collector
cavity 32 and a port 34 providing access to the collector cavity. In the
example shown in FIGS. 1-8, collector cavity 32 defines a dispensing
volume substantially equal to the predetermined volume of granules. In
the example shown in FIGS. 1-8, the dispensing volume defined by
collector cavity 32 is substantially equal to a single serving of
granules.

[0030] The reader should understand that in some examples, the collector
cavity defines a dispensing volume that is less than or greater than the
predetermined volume of granules. For example, the collector cavity may
define a volume equal to one-half the predetermined volume of granules,
and the collector may therefore receive the predetermined volume of
granules in two stages: first the collector receives one-half the
predetermined volume of granules and dispenses the first half of
granules, and second, the collector receives the second-half of the
predetermined volume. Likewise, the dispensing volume may be equal to,
greater than, or less than a single serving of granules.

[0031] In the present example, and perhaps most clearly shown in FIG. 8,
collector 30 is elongate and is approximately in the shape of a cylinder.
A cylinder is one of many suitable shapes for the collector. Other
suitable shapes for the collector include shapes that are generally
cubic, rectangular, triangular, oval or irregular.

[0032] In the example shown in FIGS. 1-8, collector 30 is rotatably
mounted within the dispenser and is configured to rotate 360 degrees
about its longitudinal axis. In other examples, the collector is
configured to rotate less than 360 degrees, such as by including stops
that restrict the collector from rotating beyond a desired angle, for
example beyond 180 degrees. Biasing mechanisms, such as springs, elastic
members, and resilient members, may be included to bias the collector
back to a desired position after being rotated. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6,
and 8, collector 30 includes a knob 35 with which a user may rotate
collector 30.

[0033] To facilitate collector 30 rotating within dispenser 20, dispenser
20 includes a bearing 36 inside which collector 30 is mounted. Bearing 36
is cylindrical and defines a top opening 37 and a bottom opening 38.
Granules my pass into collector 30 through top opening 37 and out of
collector 30 through bottom opening 38 depending on the relative position
of port 34 to the top and bottom openings of bearing 36.

[0034] As shown most clearly in FIG. 8, port 34 extends substantially the
entire length of collector 30. In other examples, the port extends less
than the entire length of the collector. Indeed, in some examples the
port defines a relatively small opening. Any size and shape of port
suitable for receiving granules into the collector cavity may be used.

[0035] Collector 30 is configured to rotate between a receiving position
where port 34 is positioned to receive granules and a dispensing position
where port 34 is positioned above base 50 to dispense granules to base
50. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-8, which makes beneficial use of
gravity to move granules, port 34 is positioned below hopper 40 in the
receiving position to receive granules from hopper 40. Moreover, in the
example shown in FIGS. 1-8, port 34 underlies top opening 37 in the
receiving position and port 34 overlies bottom opening 38 in the
dispensing position.

[0036] The relative orientation of port 34 to the other components of
granule dispenser 10, especially the vertical orientation or lack
thereof, may be different in examples beyond the example shown in FIGS.
1-8. For instance, in some examples the granule dispenser includes
components to mechanically move granules from one component to another
rather than relying in whole or in part on gravity to transfer granules
through the dispenser. In such examples, the port is partially or fully
horizontal relative to other components in the receiving and/or
dispensing positions.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, hopper 40 includes a body 41
defining a hopper cavity that has a larger volume than the dispensing
volume defined by collector cavity 32. While hopper 40 is optional, it
may be advantageous in applications where a user desires to load and
store in advance a relatively large quantity of granules to conveniently
have ready to dispense later. For example, hopper 40 may store five, ten,
twenty or more servings or more of granules, which allows the user to
dispense multiple servings of granules before needing to reload granule
dispenser 10 with granules. Reducing the instances when granules are
transferred to the granule dispenser may reduce the risk of a mess being
created in the form of spilled granules.

[0038] To facilitate transferring granules to hopper 40 and storing
granules in hopper 40, hopper 40 includes a lid 42 removably mounted to
body 41. Lid 42 is removable and substantially seals the hopper cavity.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1-8, lid 42 defines the entire roof of
hopper 40; however, other examples include a smaller lid or no lid at
all. In some examples, the hopper defines or includes a funnel proximate
the collector to funnel granules through a relatively narrow pass-through
to the port of the collector. In some examples, the pass-through of the
funnel is substantially the same size as the port. In other examples, the
pass-trough is smaller than the port.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1-7, base 50 supports dispenser 20 from
underneath dispenser 20. Base 50 ma rest on the ground, a table, a
counter, or other work surface. With reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, base
50 includes a chute 52 mounted beneath collector 30 and a support 60
configured to releasably mount receiving cup 12 beneath chute 52 in a
position to receive granules from chute 52.

[0040] Chute 52 is defined by an outer wall 53 tapering or funneling from
a chute inlet 54 to a chute outlet 56. Chute inlet 54 is disposed
proximate collector 30 and chute outlet 56 is disposed proximate top
opening 17 of receiving cup 12 when receiving cup 12 is mounted to
support 60. When collector 30 is in the dispensing position, chute inlet
54 is proximate port 34.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, chute outlet 56 is approximately equal in size
to top opening 17 of receiving cup 12. In the particular example shown in
FIGS. 1-7, chute outlet 56 is slightly smaller than top opening 17. The
chute outlet is preferably equal to or less than the size of top opening,
with chute outlet sizes closer to the size of the top opening increasing
the flow rate of granules into the receiving cup.

[0042] In other examples, the chute may define outer walls that do not
taper, but that extend vertically to define a duct, pipe, or conduit. In
still other examples, the chute includes one or more tapered outer walls
and one or more non-tapered outer walls. The reader should appreciate
that the chute is not required in all examples, but instead the collector
may dispense granules into the receiving cup directly.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2-7, support 60 includes a ledge 62
complimentarily configured with outer lip 18 of receiving cup 12 to
support receiving cup 12 from below outer lip 18. In the specific example
shown in FIGS. 2-7, ledge 62 extends in a curved path complimenting the
curved shape of outer lip 18. However, the ledge does not follow a curved
path in all examples, but instead is rectilinear in some examples or
composed of spaced, parallel ledges in other examples.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 2-7 base 50 includes a dividing wall 64
between chute 52 and support 60. Dividing wall 64 and support 60
collectively define a groove 66. Groove 66 is complimentarily configured
with outer lip 18 to support receiving cup 12 from above and below outer
lip 18. Groove 66 shown in FIGS. 2-7 extends in a curved path. However in
other examples the groove extends in a rectilinear path and in some
examples is composed of spaced, parallel grooves.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1-7, catch plate 70 includes a horizontal face
facing support 60 from below receiving cup 12 when receiving cup 12 is
mounted to support 60. Catch plate 70 serves to catch granules that are
not transferred to receiving cup 12 or that are otherwise released from
dispenser 20. To facilitate retaining granules caught on catch plate 70,
base 50 includes a retaining wall 72 extending from catch plate 70 along
the periphery of a portion of catch plate 70. To facilitate removing
granules caught on catch plate 70, retaining wall 72 defines a wall
opening 74 through which granules on catch plate 70 can be removed.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1-7, catch plate 70 is spaced below ledge 62 a
distance greater than the height of receiving cup 12 such that receiving
cup 12 hangs freely from support 60 without interacting with catch plate
70 from below in other examples, the catch plate is spaced below the
ledge a distance substantially equal to the height of the receiving cup
such that the catch plate supports the receiving cup from below when the
receiving cup is mounted to the support.

[0047] In use, a user loads hopper 40 with granules to later dispense into
receiving cup 12. When the user desires to dispense granules into
receiving cup 12, the user mounts receiving cup 12 on support 60 and
turns knob 35 to rotate collector 30 to the receiving position. When
collector 30 is in the receiving position, a predetermined volume of
granules will transfer from hopper 40 to collector cavity 32 through port
34 due to the force of gravity. The granules will naturally stop flowing
from hopper 40 to collector 30 when collector cavity 32 is full.

[0048] When collector cavity 32 is full of granules, the user then turns
knob 35 to rotate collector 30 to the dispensing position. In the
dispensing position, granules will transfer from collector cavity 32 to
chute 52 through port 34 due to the force of gravity. The granules will
then be funneled to exit through chute outlet 56 into receiving cup 12.

[0049] Optionally, collector 30 can be rotated to the receiving position
again to receive additional granules from hopper 40 if a user desires
more granules to brew his beverage, i.e., a "stronger" beverage. The
reader should note that the user need not transfer all of the granules in
collector cavity 32 to chute 52. Indeed, by limiting the time collector
30 is held in the dispensing position, the volume of granules transferred
from collector 30 to chute 52 can be controlled.

[0050] Once the desired quantity of granules are transferred to receiving
cup 12, receiving cup 12 can then be removed from support 60 and taken to
a brewing machine to brew a beverage from the granules contained therein.
Catch plate 70 will catch a substantial majority of granules, if any, not
effectively transferred to receiving cup 12. Granules on catch plate 70
can be swept or poured out of wall opening 74 into a waste basket, a
granule storage container, or back into the hopper in examples where the
base is configured to detach from the dispenser or the hopper is
configured to detach from the collector.

[0051] The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with
independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in
a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated
above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations
are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and
non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements,
features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to
those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the
disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite "a" element, "a first"
element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be
understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring
nor including two or more such elements.

[0052] Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to
combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are
believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other
combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or
properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or
presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related
application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the
same invention or a different invention and whether they are different,
broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be
considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.